1 comments about Curling: The History, The Players, The Game.

1. Warren Hansen's 1999 book, Curling: The History, The Players, The Game, is probably the best general book on the sport of curling. The biggest problem with it is that it's out of print and hard to find. (I borrowed a copy from the Edmonton Public Library.)
   Hansen, director of event management and media relations for the Canadian Curling Association, is a former Brier winner and founder of national curling schools. He is uniquely well placed to write this book.
   Warren Hansen begins the book with the story of his own love of curling and his curling career. The story is well told and there is no hint of self-indulgence in his telling it.
   He then provides a relatively brief history of curling - again, interesting and well told - before moving on to a discussion of the growth of competitive curling in Canada.
   Hansen then gives brief biographies of 19 top men's and women's skips. Making such a list is, of course, a minefield. Some may quibble that all 17 Canadians chosen for this list - from Ken Watson to Sandra Schmirler -- hail from Ontario or, mainly, the Prairies. But it's hard to dispute Hansen's list and one has to give him credit for treating fairly those such as Ed Werenich with whom he crossed swords in his job with the CCA. All in all, he does an admirable job of recapping the careers of these skips and no doubt had to dig through some archives to provide such full accounts.
   Hansen goes on to provide a thorough analysis of how to develop a good delivery - his description of that alone is well worth the price of this book. He analyzes curling strategy in light of the development of the free guard zone in the 1990s. The book concludes with 2 1/2 pages that examine the future of curling. This little conclusion has the qualities that permeate the book. It is honest, objective, fair and interesting.
   This book is also well and thoughtfully illustrated. My only complaint is that the section on physical conditioning for curling is far too brief and contains the bizarre advice that "the recreational player needs to spend only about five minutes" a day on aerobic conditioning.
   Nevertheless, a lot of planning, hard work, research and quality editing went into this book. It is a true classic. One can only hope that an updated version will soon find its way into print.

1 comments about Curling (For the Love of Sports).

1. If you are an adult, do not expect a book detailing a person's love of curling. This is a 24 page book, directed towards children. It has a couple of short paragraphs of the rules of the game, and about the positions that are played. All in all, do to the lack of information, I would not even recommend it for a child who is interested in curling.

No comments about Curling Book: With Tips for Beginners and Experts.

No comments about Curling Handbook for Curlers, Teachers, and Coaches.

No comments about The Black Bonspiel of Willie MacCrimmon.

No comments about Hurry Hard: The Russ Howard Story.

No comments about The Roaring Game: The Sweeping Saga of Curling.

1 comments about Gold on Ice: The Story of the Sandra Schmirler Curling Team.

1. Although everyone has heard the story a thousand times, never before has it been presented with such detail. It's an uplifiting tale of the tortoise beating the hare, David conquering Goliath, success in the face of adversity. You'll be mesmerized as the tales of ice being furiously swept and wood gliding across it are told with a never-before-achieved drama. The title is no lie, the Sandra Schmirler Curling Team is truly "Gold on Ice."

No comments about Between the Sheets: Creating Curling Champions.

5 comments about Curling For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. The book is great as a stand alone, or as a backup for those of us who have embarked on our curling careers already, and need a little extra help remembering all the phrases, shots, rules, etc.
   It also gives some background and history on alot of the aspects of curling, which help you better understand the sport as a whole. Anyone who thinks curling is easy needs to sit down and read the book and sign up for a class. There's nothing 'easy' or 'dumb' about it, but you will meet alot of very interesting people and gain a new respect for the people who have been doing this their entire lives.



2. I had no idea about the sport whatsoever but having read the book I feel like a professional (even though I have not tried playing it yet!). The book is well-organized, very informative and fun to read.



3. This book really helped me out. I was doing a research project on Curling and it really came in handy. It had all the information in it that I needed.



4. As a new curler, this book was a perfect companion to actually playing. It had everything you need to learn the sport. A must read if you want to curl.



5. I picked up curling just after the 2006 Olympics. This book does a pretty good job covering all the aspects of curling, from scoring, sweeping, delivery, and more. This book won't replace a lesson from an experienced curler, but its certainly a good reference once you've gotten out on the ice. This book has the Triangle Curling Club Seal of Approval, if there is such a thing :)